Thank You, Internet!

Today is the birthday of someone that's very dear to me. Normally he's near to me too, just not today cause he's celebrating his birthday in London with the love of his life, who is also very near and dear to me.

It's Tom's birthday. He and Dale are celebrating in England while they are on their whirlwind European tour. I don't know if they will see a whirlwind, or if Dale will surprise Tom with a whirlwind while they are there...you never know with Dale. Or Tom, for that matter.

I met Tom and Dale thru the internet (thanks Micah ), which is nothing new these days and certainly nothing new in my life.  Micah profiled Tom's blog, I started reading, Tom started reading mine, and then one day out of the blue, Tom and Dale popped into work with several hot fresh cookies straight from Mrs. Field's oven.  Cause I was having a bad day. That's just the kind of people Tom and Dale are...always thinking of everyone else.

So we continued to comment, they continued to drop by to say hi to surprise me, and finally (last year during the DNC) Tom and I actually had a chance to sit down and chat. And it was awesome. Just like Tom. And Dale.

So many people always talk about 'Social Media' and the value it can bring to a business. Page hits, site rankings, followers...it's all the rage.  For me, Social Media is about the 'SOCIAL'. The people you meet and how they grow from being blogs or Twitterers or even Facebook Friends to friends that you care about and interact with. Then one day it's like you've known them all your life and you can't imagine your life without them in it.

Much like I feel about Tom and Dale.

Tom, your birthday present is back here, waiting for your return

Thanks to you and Dale for being such wonderful friends and having me as a friend as well.

Have a wonderful birthday my dear friend, and if the Queen won't take time out to have you over for a spot of tea, that's her loss.

Comments

[rosalicious]

Couldn't agree more with putting the SOCIAL back in social media. I feel like it's lost the human element. All the automatic DMs, spam, searches, RTs, hash tags...blech. I like - and miss - a nice, simple, witty 140 character personal thought or observation. Now it's all junked up with weirdo corporate self-promotional gobbledygook that looks like it's written in freaking alien code.

Sorry for the rant - I still love me some Twitter, but damn! Now I'm calling it Tweaker! :)

PS. Happy Bithday, Tom!

[Jess]

I totally agree on the social thing. Screw page views, Technorati ratings, etc. I have some awesome friends I've met through blogging, yourself included! Speaking of which, when are we getting together again? You and Rosie and Kevin need to come to our place for dinner!